Customer Reviews for Smith & Wesson Model 649 Shrouded Hammer 357 Magnum Revolver

Very powerful and perfect pocket pistol. No one will see it coming. Keep a firm grip b/c well . . . RECOIL

This is my go to EDC, I’m a big fan of the 357 magnum.
I changed out the grips for some premium rosewood with the S&W silver medallion. That combined with the shrouded hammer gives it a very nice look.
It has a very nice trigger and I was easily hitting half silhouette steel plates from 25 yards with 158 grain 357 magnum rounds.
Like always, shopping at Buds was a great experience and I’m glad I own this gun!

Very nice revolver, good for concealed hand gun. I carry on my calf and it’s hardly notice.357 mag and 38 special.All Ineed is change front sight.

Being a small guy I picked the Model 649 (J Frame) with the intent to use this as my backup carry on my leg or to use this as primary carry when wearing a primary on my belt line was impossible or impractical. The gun is of superior quality and has some heft to it. Mechanically it operates well with a fairly heavy trigger, which is preferred for me with a revolver, and the shrouded hammer significantly reduces the possibility of a fabric snag while drawing the weapon. The option to chamber .357 and .38 Special is plus as well. The grip is rather large and long which makes it easier to hold on to while firing, and let me tell you this little guy needs a fierce grip when firing .357. I’m used to firing 9mm like it’s not even there is and little fellow will let you know he’s there. The down side of the grip is that it is really hard to prevent it from printing in a leg carry scenario unless you are wearing baggy dad pants. I’m still trying to get it just right. The sights are also “shrouded” so you will be looking down a groove on the top of the gun and aligning it with a very subtle front sight. If you are not already strong in your accuracy skills this, along with the short 2 1/8 inch barrel, will add difficulty to precise shot placement beyond 7 yards. The gun is accurate though and I was able to make most of my hits on 8 inch at 20 yards (without stressors). All in all the gun is a great choice for size, quality, and stopping power so long as you can cope with moderately high recoil and report.

Always wanted a S&W 649 Buds had a great price and easy buying had to get it thank you Buds best place to buy your next gun

Great revolver shoots excellent. Good for pocket holster.

For what this revolver is, and if you prefer this configuration, this is a wonderful option. Like the other stainless steel J frames this is a great shooter with 38+p, however .357 can be a handful. More manageable than the airweights, but still a handful. It also has that heavy trigger, which requires some practice to become proficient with. Additionally, I really dislike the grip, but there are plenty of after market grips to meet any preference. I bought this revolver because I wanted the stainless steel 60, 640 and 649 so that I could have the exposed hammer, the concealed hammer and the shrouded hammer carry options in the collection. This revolver is exactly what you are expecting to get, a high quality stainless steel J frame with a shrouded hammer. For meeting all expectations it deserves five stars.

Exactly what I wanted. A great every day concealed carry weapon. We did an action job on it and put in springs and added a pair of Altamont rubber boot grip with wood insert to make it almost perfect. Plan on adding a high vis front sight; bettter for older eyes. Then it should be perfect. Working with Bud's Guns is easy and the item came quickly.

Recoil is minimal. Sounds like a cannon going off. Accuracy satisfactory. I felt sorry for the target.

Another great J Frame S&W. The 649 comes with a very good trigger and the weight allows you to shoot the fight stopping .357 mags without the harsh recoil of the lighter weight J frames. It slips into your pocket and conceals well. I made two changes to mine. I put an XS big dot night sight on the front and changed out the rubber grips for a set of Altamont wood grips. It looks great with the easy to clean polished SS finish. This has fast become my favorite concealed carry gun. As for Bud's, they did their usual great job.

Very happy with this purchase, single action feels like feather.

I am very happy with this revolver except for the locking feature on the side of the gun. I have read about problems with the lock engaging by itself while being fired, but I have yet to have any problem. I just don't like the looks of the hole in the side above the cylinder release. Other than that it has proven to be smooth and accurate. Thanks Buds for a fast no-problem transaction.

I love the S&W JFrame platform. I have a average guys collection of them since I only make average guy money LOL. The 649 completed my collection of the .357 J Frames. This sample was awful. Fit and finish was really rough with machining marks throughout the interior areas of the frame the worst areas being around the forcing cone, which looked like somebody cut it with a hack saw. The finish overall was dull not matt but dull and there was surface rust where the ejector seats in the barrel shroud. I was going to return it but I was able to polish it up and smooth out the rough areas with some elbow grease. For what I paid S&W I should be getting a nicely finished firearm. I am not expecting a performance center simply a well finished example of the 649. You cannot carry your brand at a premium price point based on that it has superior forging and then finish it like crap replace hand finished internals with MIM parts and then slap a lock on it and expect customers to stay loyal. I have a Taurus 605 in .357 that I paid three hundred and some odd dollars for that to be quite honest was better finished than the Smith and has a out of box superior trigger, albeit inferior steel. My Rugers although invest cast and a little but more of a longer trigger reset are always beautiful well finished made in the USA, guaranteed for life, cheaper and in many cases stronger than the Smiths. At this point I will stick with the Ruger the value equation is far better and they make a quality piece, unless its a vintage Smith or the entry level J Frame in 38 p which they still seem to get right.

Thanks I am very happy with my new 649 S&W .357 mag. Buds is the best!

This is my 24/7 carry pistol, my bedside gun and I always put a few rounds through my bodyguard everytime I visit the range. After I shot my father’s S&W 649, an older model 38 special Kentucky State Trooper service revolver, I have always liked the 649. The revolver feels great in the hands, nicely balanced and the shrouded hammer prevents snagging issues when drawing from a pocket. Also the shrouded hammer design allows the shooter to fire in single action (SA) mode should greater accuracy be required vs. “hammer-less” DA only snub-nose revolvers. Once S&W produced a 649 that could deliver the awesome .357 magnum round I knew this was my 24/7 carry gun. Fit and Finish: Comes with a brushed stainless finish, no sign of wear after 6 months of moderate carry and range use Trigger: There is nothing like a Smith and Wesson Revolver trigger, it is smooth all the way through double action operation and pulling the single action trigger “feels like you are breaking a rod of glass”. This Smith's trigger has no drag, pre-travel or excessive over-travel. Trigger reset for single action is A+. Frame: Sturdy all stainless steel J-frame Accuracy, while standing in SA: Using the fixed sights, I am shooting 2-3” groups at 10 yards and at 25 yards I can hit a silhouette everytime. With the CTC lasergrips I can shoot 1” groups (SA) at 10 yards. Grips: original Wilson Combat grips fit my hand perfectly. Soft and smooth rubber feel. Reliability: I have put around 100 rounds of Winchester 38 spl and CCI Blazer .357 magnum ammo without a single problem. Balance: The weight distribution of this gun is very balanced, points and aims naturally Action: Cycles very smoothly, cylinder removal and spent casing ejection is easy Misc comments: The steel frame of the 649 has just enough weight so that shooting a box of hot .357 rounds is no chore, while carry via a pocket holster is routine. Additionally, shooting 38 spl and 38 spl +P rounds out of the 649 allows for comfortable and affordable practice. If I were ever faced with a situation where my only option was self-defense, I would trust none other than the knock-down power of the .357 Magnum round chambered in a reliable all-steel framed ‘point and shoot’ revolver; accordingly, my home defense gun is a S&W 686P 7-Shot .357. I have improved my stock 649 with: Testors Fluorescent Model Paint over Boyd’s White Primer to repaint front sight blade, CTC LG-305 extended laser grips, Uncle Mikes pocket holster (size 3), 38spl aZoom snap caps for trigger-pull practice and Remington Golden Saber 125 Grain for Self-Defense Rounds (very accurate and manageable recoil for effective follow-up shots) Last: NO regrets on buying this great Pistol from Budsguns, Thanks guys

Nice 2" revolver in .357, a little more weight than a .38 but not enough to not move up to a magnum round. The shrouded hammer makes this a good CCW or pocket gun with less snag potential and is a great size for the summer months. With 5 rounds and the option to carry 1 or 2 speed loaders any citizen should feel well equiped to handle situations. For people that are recoil sensative the 649 is a nice option to have an all steel frame and the ability to load .38 rounds to reduce felt recoil. I feel this gun is a good compromise between a smaller .38 and a larger caliber pistol and would also make a good BUG (back up gun).